Athletes often encounter invisible barriers that significantly hinder their performance—barriers not due to a lack of skill or training but psychological blocks that can seem insurmountable. These can stem from a traumatic event, like a bad fall during competition, or emerge without any apparent cause. I have recently been using an approach that feels like a great fit for many athletes struggling with various forms of mental blocks in their sport. I have started treating athletes with EMDR.
As a clinically trained psychologist who, over the past ten years, has gradually moved into the world of sport and performance psychology, I am lucky to work 1:1 with athlete clients in a therapeutic space and, in that setting, tend to use an eclectic mix of therapeutic approaches.
Exploring New Therapies to Enhance an Athlete’s Performance is Exciting.
It’s not uncommon to meet athletes who, for reasons not entirely clear to them, hit an invisible barrier in their performance. For example, the cyclist who’s lost their nerve on sharp turns after a crash, the gymnast who can’t explain why a skill they have performed hundreds of times before is now impossible to attempt, or the swimmer who battles a tide of nausea at the thought of racing, and is worn out by trying not to vomit in the warm-up.
Treating Athletes with EMDR
I’ve introduced EMDR to many athletes over the past 12 months. Although it is not a magic bullet, and I don’t have any data to show its effectiveness empirically, anecdotally, it has felt like a great additional tool to support athletes to feel more prepared to face their fears.
EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic approach originally developed to reduce the psychological distress associated with traumatic experiences. The core of EMDR therapy involves the client being treated to recall distressing events while simultaneously being directed through specific eye movements or, alternatively, receiving auditory or tactile bilateral stimulation. This process encompasses eight distinct phases that address the traumatic memory in terms of its historical roots, its current impact on psychological distress, and the adaptive resolutions needed for future situations. Although EMDR was once considered a pretty bizarre idea, it is now a recommended treatment option for trauma by the World Health Organisation.
EMDR aims to help the processing of traumatic memory, to reduce its unsettling power over their psychological and physical well-being, and, in the case of athletes or performers, to allow them to engage in the sport or activity they love. As a client athlete processes the memories of past events, their nervous system is retrained, and their somatic (physical) response to future events, which may create a similar feeling or nervous system response, is desensitised.
Athletes Enjoy Being More Active in Therapy
This more “hands-on” approach seems to resonate well with athletes. No therapy provides instant fixes, and EMDR is no exception. However, there’s something genuinely promising in how EMDR helps athletes process their blocks and anxieties. In addition to what studies have shown about the neurological changes that occur during processing, the other factor that I believe assists clients to engage is that EMDR also feels proactive, almost like a mental workout, engaging an athlete’s mind in a structured and dynamic process.
When treating athletes with EMDR, I’m noticing more and more that athletes appreciate this technique. They participate actively, they engage with the process, and, importantly, they often emerge feeling a sense of progress. Each session can feel like a step forward, a lap completed, a hurdle overcome. And as we go, I’m right there with them, supporting, exploring and witnessing their journey back to peak performance.
The potential of EMDR in sports psychology is a captivating new chapter in my practice. It’s a testament to the evolving field and the innovative ways we can physically, emotionally, and psychologically support athletes. As I continue to explore this therapy, I’m inspired by each athlete who regains their confidence and reconnects with the joy of their sport. It’s a privilege to be part of their world, helping to clear the mental pathways that lead to their success.